Title page for ETD etd-07222008-202248

Determining the Role of Porosity on the Thermal Properties of Graphite Foam

Degree

Master of Science

Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name

Title

Kampe, Stephen L.

Committee Chair

Corcoran, Sean Gerald

Committee Member

Klett, James

Committee Member

Pickrell, Gary R.

Committee Member

Poquette, Ben

Committee Member

Keywords

Heat Transfer

Porosity

Characterization

Graphite Foam

Date of Defense

2008-07-10

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

Graphite foams have high bulk thermal conductivity and low density, making them an excellent material for heat exchanger applications. This research focused on the characterization of graphite foams under various processing conditions (different foaming pressures and particle additions), specifically studying the effects of porosity on the thermal properties. The characterization of the foams included measuring cell sizes, percent open porosity, number of cells per square inch, bulk density, Archimedes density, compression strength, thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, and permeability. Several relationships between the structure and properties were established, and a recommendation for the processing conditions of graphite foams for the use in heat exchangers was determined.